When to Take Ovulation Induction
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women's Health, about 10% of women in America between the ages of 15-44 have difficulty getting pregnant or staying pregnant. If you struggle with fertility you're not alone and there are options available to you for enhancing fertility and ideally conceiving with as little medical intervention as possible. Ovulation induction is often the first step to increase fertility, but when should you consider it?
Eliminating Other Potential Causes of Infertility
If you have been trying to get pregnant for a year unsuccessfully, or six months if you are over the age of 35, consider booking a fertility evaluation. An experienced specialist will go over your complete medical history and will determine what may be causing or contributing your difficulty conceiving.
The most common cause of infertility is PCOS or Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. PCOS is a hormonal condition that causes the ovaries to become enlarged and develop many tiny cysts. With PCOS, you may not ovulate regularly or at all. Other causes of infertility can be endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, and uterine fibroids. Smoking, stress, alcohol use, excessive exercise, obesity or being underweight, or sexually transmitted infections can also cause infertility. Your fertility specialist will identify potential causes of your infertility and make recommendations.
When Should You Consider Ovulation Induction
If you've eliminated potential contributors to infertility or have received treatment for conditions that cause infertility and are still struggling to conceive, discuss the potential for ovulation induction with your fertility specialist. Ovulation induction is minimally invasive and is most often combined with intrauterine insemination (IUI) to increase the chances of success. It is usually the first step to enhancing fertility before considering the more invasive procedure of in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Ovulation induction involves simple hormone injections that are designed to stimulate your ovaries to produce and release mature eggs into your fallopian tubs. When combined with IUI, sperm is directly injected through a very small catheter placed directly into the uterus when ovulation is expected. This increases the chances that an egg will be fertilized, ideally resulting in a successful pregnancy.
Although minimally invasive, ovulation induction should not be considered until you have tried to get pregnant for at least a year, or for six months if you are over the age of 35. Your partner should also be evaluated for causes of infertility before you proceed with ovulation induction. According to the Mayo Clinic, about 15% of males are infertile and causes of male infertility range from lifestyle choices, injuries, illnesses, and chronic health problems, all of which may be treatable before choosing ovulation induction.
When The Time Is Right, Choose New York Reproductive Wellness
If you've been struggling with infertility and are ready to take the next step, contact New York Reproductive Wellness for a complete fertility evaluation. Call now for an appointment at (516) 757-7673.
